Weekend Arts Roundup - Nov 19th, 2009

Please welcome someone new to Exit133 as we bring back a recurring post that’s been in the desk drawer for a few years. Local writer and self-appointed man about town, Steve Dunkelberger, will highlight weekend activities of all sorts on Thursdays, to allow you, our readers, to alter your schedules based on his must-attend recommendations. Steve will then provide us with a roundup of the scene each Monday. What should we do this weekend? Let’s begin …

For the black-leather jacket set in the 253, there is the Underride concert at Jazz Bones with VIII Days Clean, Cold December, Death Valley and Murder Squad rounding out the bill, with a special guest appearance by Ashley from VH1’s Rock of Love. The night will end with DJ Omar spinning his discs and ladies shaking and grooving along the way. Music starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 and available at the door.

More refined music can be found at the Tacoma Concert Band, as it presents “Autumn Winds” at the Pantages Theatre. The music starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $15, $20, $25 and $30. This elite band will play a wide enough mix of some oldies and some new works to get every audience member swaying or tapping at least once during the performance.

In the world of South Sound Theater “The Greatest Plays Ever Written by Nick Stokes,” by Theater Probably Forgettable Productions, is continuing its run at Old City Hall, 625 Commerce. The program includes two new plays, “The Sound We Make” and “Whiteout.” Earlier shows in the theater run have played to solid audiences. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. tonight, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The theater event also includes displays of art by Jen Parker and Hilltop Artists in Residence. Tickets are $14 and available at BrownPaperTickets.com.

Notable events in Tacoma include the Third Thursday ArtWalk tonight from 5 to 8 p.m., with the city’s museums offering free admission and galleries offering special showings, demonstrations and refreshments. A schedule and map is available at www.artwalktacoma.com.

For that Christmas season feeling, visit the Dickens Festival in the Stadium District Saturday. The turn-of-the-last-century event will include music, jugglers, carriage rides, and roaming carolers to make the whole Dickensian atmosphere complete. The trip back in time runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is free. Learn more at Dickensfestival.net.

While the wind is expected to whistle through T-town through the weekend, making the Third Thursday ArtWalk festivities less than ideal, the thunder beats and the raucous laughter and gasps at clubs and Old City Hall will be enough to warm souls in the City of Destiny. While this is just a glimpse at the weekend ahead, get out and about to see something else to fit your fancy.